A retired North Wales police officer has today changed his plea and admitted a charge of misconduct in public office.

Defendant Robert Wyn Jones, 50, had pleaded not guilty and a trial was due to be held this week.

But this morning, the former custody sergeant at Wrexham police station entered the dock at Mold Crown Court and pleaded guilty to a charge that in September 2012, he accessed a police report when not authorised to do so.

He then passed on details to a member of the public when she was not authorised to receive it.

A second charge of misconduct was not proceeded with when he admitted an alternative Data Protection Act charge that in November and December of 2012, he unlawfully obtained and disclosed personal data to a woman.

A third charge of unauthorised accessing computer material, which he denied, was not proceeded with.

Jones, of Greenfield Road in Ruthin, initially pleaded not guilty to three charges back in June of last year.

The original trial in January did not proceed because of a lack of court time.

Today, the court was told that he was under no illusion as to the gravity of the offences, particularly the charge of misconduct in public office.

But the defence asked for a pre-sentence report.

Judge Philip Hughes agreed and adjourned sentence for three weeks.

But he told Jones: “I am sure you understand that for this kind of offending, you must come back expecting a custodial sentence.”